[BC] KKHI and KCBS

[Steve]

Hey Tom:

Was Bill Agee the P.D. at the time or Keith Lockhart, or?. (I'm grabbing at straws here and you may not remember). What year did you apply and what was the outcome?

KCBS was in the Palace Hotel before they moved to #1 Embarcadero Center on Sacramento Street. (That's where I worked from 1972 to 1979). I remember in the late 50's attending a live radio show at one of the larger (probably at the time largest) studios at the Palace Hotel. It was exciting for this kid. That's when I wish I had been in radio. Actually, before that when the live radio dramas and such were running. Then again CBS was still running the Lone Ranger in 1958 if memory serves me. In fact, I know they were because I taped it on my VM Model 714 reel-to-reel. The tape is long gone.

One of my radio idols (for lack of a better word) was Ken Ackerman. (He's still alive) The CBS Radio Network (and I'm sure you remember this) had a program called American Airlines "Music 'Til Dawn". Ken was the host for years. (in fact, I think he was the only host for KCBS) Each CBS O&O had their own announcer however, at times, they would tie into one of the other O&O's should an announcer be out. I think I remember that happening. I believe they would have to do that in the same time zone. So, for instance, if the guy at KNX in Los Angeles was out they'd take the KCBS feed of the program. Used to listen to that in the 50's. Program signed on at 11pm and ended at 5am. They'd start with middle of the road type music then transition to the heavier works as the hours progressed. The theme for the show was "That's All", if you remember. I was with KCBS-FM and Ken was still with the AM  and we used to talk at length about those days at the Palace Hotel. Great guy. Good person. I'm glad I had the opportunity to at least be on the same floor with the "Music 'Till Dawn" announcer. 

Some personal stuff just for grins:

After they replaced the staff at KCBS-FM in 1979 I went over as P.D. of KDFC. After that made another BIG shift back to Top-40 and jocked at KFRC. After that, the guy who swore he would NEVER leave his home town went to Seattle to work on a station partly owned by a couple of my college buddies. I took care of both transmitter sites and the studio gear and did most of the production. Then, guess what? It was back to classical music. KING-FM at their beautiful Dexter Avenue complex. What a company to work for. The best! Went there in January of 1982 and got a personal services contract for 3 years in 1984 when I told them a good friend of mine wanted me to come down to L.A. as production director for KFI/KOST. My dad crunched the numbers for me (he was an accountant) and told me to take the KING contract as the difference in the cost of living would actually be less in L.A. even thought the "actual" figure was more. I did until he passed away right near the end of my contract. I left for Oregon and went to work for another classical music station (KYTE) and did mornings there as well. After that it gets too boring and complicated to explain. :) I can tell you this. I'm much happier living in a small town (outside of the small town actually) and doing afternoons. Country!!!! Then at night I cut tracks for WorldSpace Satellite Radio Network for, you guessed it, their Classical channel called "Maestro". I think (can't remember) I told you about that. We're the XM for Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia.
Classical music radio has been very good to me and has saved my bacon on several occasions. Oh, and I happen to like it.This helps. I call myself a rock jock who has a good command of foreign language rules and knows Classical music. There are not too many around who can do a downshift like that. I have no problem with making the transition. I use an AC approach to Classical music announcing as it is so the shift isn't that dramatic for me. Theater of the mind and knowing how to keep control on what you're doing at the time is the key. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Whew. 

So what are you doing now and where has this crazy biz taken you? I'll shut up for a bit. :)

Steve
Steve Walker Productions


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ACN 
  To: Broadcasters' Mailing List 
  Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 3:25 PM
  Subject: [BC] KKHI and KCBS


  No, Steve this is important historical info.   Keep it up.  No, it 
  was announcing for KKHI.   As I kid I had done classical announcing 
  and had a voice they liked with authority for classical.

  I also remember when KCBS was in a hotel in SF.    The name slips my 
  mind. A friend had come down from Tacoma and was in charge of 
  traffic.   He called me said they were looking for a staff announcer 
  who sounded "network".

  They were not news, still running mostly CBS network programs and the 
  announcing was primarily giving local IDs and reading a few 
  commercials.  It was really summer relief as I had to get back to school.

  Nice operation.   Very professional.

  Thanks,

  Tom